Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.
What: Shares of Chelsea Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CHTP), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, fell as much as 36% after briefing documents were posted on the Food and Drug Administration's website ahead of the Jan. 14 advisory panel meeting regarding Northera, a drug designed to treat neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH).
So what: According to the briefing documents, the review of Northera could be complex in that it shows "strong evidence" that it delivers a short-term benefit to the patient within the first week. However, there's no concrete evidence that it has a long-term benefit to the patient, although the study data would suggest that it might. Investors are therefore clearly concerned that the FDA's advisory panel will not be in favor of approving Northera when it votes on Jan. 14.
Now what: The true concern I have with Chelsea Therapeutics isn't that its lead drug has only delivered concrete evidence of benefits in the short term -- it's that beyond Northera, which has already been rejected once, it only has three additional ongoing trials, two of which also include droxidopa (the scientific name for Northera). If Northera isn't successful on its second go-round, I believe investors are seriously going to question Chelsea's remaining pipeline. While I wouldn't suggest doing anything drastic like running for the hills, or playing ostrich, I would closely monitor Tuesday's vote for your next cue. If the FDA's panel votes against approval, Chelsea's long-term viability could very well come into question.
